Time Bomb Comics Announces Temporary Pause for Quantum
Publisher Steve Tanner shares a message about the comic's future:
After producing 11 issues of Quantum, Time Bomb Comics has decided to put the release of their direct to newsagents anthology comic on hiatus for a few months. Issue 12 was expected into shops later this month, but that will no longer be the case. However, all existing subscribers will receive a limited-edition variant of Quantum 12 in April.
Regular readers of Quantum will know that in recent months we've had challenges getting the comic into shops when it needed to be, due to circumstances outside our immediate control. For example, the current issue 11 was unfortunately delayed by 3 weeks due to a printer error that necessitated a full reprint.
Consistent direct to newsagent sales have also been challenging, with many readers telling us they just can't get hold of a copy due to factors such as their local WHS closing, or nearest independent newsagents just not interested in stocking comics and magazines.
Delays and lack of availability are frustrating for readers, but they also have a knock-on effect for us, as most of the revenue generated for the sales of the comic fund the advance costs needed to publish it. Basically, if we don't receive it when we need it, then it creates a problem.
So, rather than continue to swim against the tide, it seemed the sensible thing would be to get out of the water for a while, which would help put us in a better position to continue publishing Quantum rather than not publish Quantum at all.
It will also give us some time to bring all the varied distribution methods we have for Quantum in line, and build on some newer ones, such as digital and printed editions of Quantum being available through Kickstarter.
We appreciate this news will be disappointing for all those that were looking forward to reading Quantum issue 12 this month, but we hope our readers agree that an extended delay rather than cancellation is indeed great news!
